Apparatus for sand control completion



March 16, 1965 D. B. BAYARD ETAT. 3,173,487

APPARATUS FOP sANO CONTROL COMPLETION 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed DSC. 28.1960 .ATM

INVENTORS DONALD B. BAYARD FIG. 2G

J0 EPH E. DEW/TT TREs March 16, 1965 n. B. BAYARD ETAI.

APPARATUS FOR SAND CONTROL COMPLETION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 28.1960 INVENTORS DONALD s. BAYARD Jo EPH E. DEW/Tr United States Patent OEice 3,173,487 APPARATUS FR SAND CONTROL COMPLETIGN Donald B. Bayard,Golden Meadow, and Joseph E.

De Witt, Houma, La., assignors to California Re- Search Corporation, SanFrancisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 28, 196i), Ser.No. 78,946 S Claims. (Cl. 16d- 134) This invention relates to sandcontrol in oil wells and more particularly this invention relates tosand control completion with prepacked sand control liners adapted to bepositioned adjacent a producing formation.

lt is a particular object of this invention to provide an apparatus forlwire line placement of a production' packer and a prepacked sandcontrol liner in a borehole which eliminates the` necessity ofindividual placement of these components -and the concurrent downhole`trips of the tubing string.

Flowing sand has long been a problem in oil production.V This isespecially true in areas, such as the Gulf Coast area, where theproducing formations tend to be unconsolidated. Many methods of sandcontrol have been tried to eliminate the production of flowing sand withthe produced oil. One of the more successful attempts to deal with thisproblem has been the utilization of prepacked sand control liners in theborehole adjacent a producing formation. The prepacked sand controlliners generally consist of a hollow cylindrical matrix of presizedmaterial designed to pass oil and `filter sand and other objectionablesolid material, a containing means for the cylindrical matrix and meansconnecting the interior of the cylindrical matrix with a string ofproduction tubing inserted into the borehole from. the surface. Whetherthe prepacked sand control liners are used in tiowing wells or inpumping wells, a production packer is placed above the sand controlliner to pack off the annular space between the well casing or boreholewall and the outside of the production tubing to confine oil flow to theproduction tub-ing. lt is in the placing of the repacked sand controlliner and the production packer that this invention is concerned.

Heretofore, sand control with prepacks was generally accomplished by.the following procedure. When drilling was finished, the drill stringwas pulled from the hole and casing operations completed. A prepackedsand control lincr was placed adjacent the producing formation bylowering the prepack from the surface on a runningin string, usuallycomposed of production tubing. Since the borehole usually bottomed atthe lower limit of the producing zone, the prepack was disconnected fromthe running-in string by forcing the base of the prepack on the wellbottom and counter-rotating the running-in string to unscrew thethreaded coupling between the running-in string and the prepack. Therunning-in string was then pulled from the hole by alternately raisingthe entire string and removing the individual tubing sections making upthe string. A production packer' and a packer setting tool werepositioned above' the prepack either by lowering the packer and pack-ersetting tool on a running-in string or by a wire line. Attached to thebottom of the packer was a tail pipe .designed to lit into the hookupnipple at the top of the prepack or other-wise seal the Patented Mar.16, 1965 pack to the surface and the well was ready to produce.

A number of serious problems arise when sand control is done in thismanner. The prepack is often damaged when it is subjected to the torque,impacts and shocks associated with inserting and uncoupling the prepackfrom the setting string in the borehole. The tail pipe connectionextending below the production packer often does no-t completely sealthe inner bore of the prepack and the production tubing, allowing sandto enter through the crack and be produced with the oil. Since theoperation as recited above requires at least two trips of the running-instring, it is uneconomical because of the amount of rig time required toplace the packer and liner.

Briefly, the present invention provides an apparatus for sand controlcompletion that allows both the production packer and the prepacked sandcontrol liner to be run in the borehole at the same time on a wire line,positioned adjacent the producing formation, the paCker set, the wireline removed and the,V production tubing inserted into the packer tocomplete the conduit .to the surface for the sandfree production of oil.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention lwill becomeapparent from the following detailed description and the accompanyingdrawings which are made a part of 4this specification.

In the drawings: j

FIG. la is an elevation view partially in section of ,the lower portionof one embodiment of the invention showing a prepacked sand controlliner and the lower portion of a special hookup nipple.

"FIG, 1b is an elevation view partially in Section of the upper portionof the same embodiment of the invention showing the upper part of thespecial hookup nipple and a production packer.

Y FIG. 2a is an elevation view partially in section of the lower portionof another embodiment of the invention showing a prepacked sand controlliner and the lower portion of a special hookup nipple.

i FIG. 2b is an elevation view partially in section of the upper portionof the same embodiment of the invention showing the upper part of thespecial hookup nipple and a production packer.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodif ment of theinvention being positioned in a borehole by wire line.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment of the inventionin a borehole adjacent a producing formation.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment of the inventionin a borehole adjacent a produc.- ing formation with the packer set andthe wire line freed..

tFlG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment of the inventionin a borehole with production tubing inserted therein.

Referring specifically to FIG. 1a, a prepacked sand control liner 87 isshown. :In this embodiment of the invention the prepack 187 is carriedon the inner tube 2.2- The prepack 87 rests on the bottom of the hole.on a crossfoot bull plug 24. @Particles 2,6 cemented by an agent suchas plastic are bonded around inner tube 22. Suitable particles includeselected sand grains such aS those comprising widely graded sand grainsas defined in lDe Priester U.S. Patent 2,905,245. Other particles suchas nut shells, shredded wood and the like can also be used, The prepack87 is positioned in a borehole adjacent a producing formation to controlthe flow of ,Sand from the formation. Oil flows to the surface through acentral flow passage formed through at least a portion of the length ofprepack `87 by inner tube l22.

The prepacked sand control liner 87 is connected to a production packer`(tS, FIG. 1b) by hookup nipple 86. The inner tube 22 of the prepack 87is attached to es the lower part of a tubular member 30 by means ofshearable collar 28 and adapted sub 32. Shearable collar 28 isconstructed of a metal which will fail when a predetermined stress isapplied. However, any convenient separable means may be incorporated inthis embodiment. For example, adapter sub 32 could have seals adapted tobe inserted into collar 28, instead of the illustrated threadedconnection, which would separate when a predetermined tension isapplied. The separable means is desired because of the tendency of thesand control liner 87 to become imbedded in the borehole duringoperation. When this occurs the sand completion tools above separablemeans may be pulled after the separable means separates and the sandcontrol liner 87 fished out later.

Tubular member 30 is preferably of suliicient diameter to receiveconventional production tubing. Production tubing (dashed lines) 100 islater inserted to the pos1- tion illustrated after the packer 85 and thesand control prepacked liner 87 have been positioned in the boreholeadjacent the producing formation and the packer set.

Referring to FIG. lb which is a continuation of FIG. la showing theupper portion of this embodiment of the invention, tubular member 30 isconnected to a production packer 85 by means of adapter sub 42. Aparticular packer which is adapted for use in this embodiment is theBaker Model D Retainer Production Packer, Product Number 4l5-D. Theportion below the lower slips 44 of the packer is removed and replacedby adapter sub 42. This packer is one that may be used in the inventionand generally any packer that has a hollow inner bore adapted to receiveproduction tubing and that can be wire line set may be adapted for usein the invention. The production packer `85 seals olf the annular spacebetween the borehole wall, the casing and the production tubing by meansof packer element 46, retaining rings 48 and 49, and upper slips 47 andlower slips 44. The packer 85 is adapted for wire line setting. This maybe accomplished by a conventional wire line pressure setting assembly(not shown). The packer 85 and the sand control liner 87 (FIG. la) areconnected as illustrated in FIGS. ila and lb. A wire line pressuresetting assembly or a similar wire line setting tool is attached to theproduction packer 85 and the packer 85 and prepacked sand control liner`87 are lowered into the borehole to a position adjacent a producingformation. The packer is Set and the pressure setting assembly which isreleased from the packer during the setting operation is pulled from thehole with the wire line.

After the packer and liner have been positioned in the borehole, thepacker set and the setting assembly and wire line removed from theborehole, a string of production tubing 100 is inserted into theborehole. The packer 85 has an inner bore adapted to receive the tubing100. Seals 101 which are attached to the exterior of tubing 100 seal theinner bore of the packer 85 with the tubing 100 to provide a conduit tomove oil to the surface.

Referring to FIG. 2a where the lower part of an alternative embodimentof the invention is illustrated, a prepacked sand control liner 87 isshown. The prepack 87 is adapted to be carried on its outer hull 62.Presized particles 63 are contained between outer hull 62 and inner tube64. Communication between the exterior of the prepack 87 and the innerbore of the prepack 87 is provided by slots 65 located in the outer hull62 and slots 66 located in the inner tube 64. Particles 63 are containedin the annular space between the outer hull 62 and the inner tube 64 bybase 68 and seal 67 at the top of the prepack 87. A crossfoot plug 78 iscommonly attached to base 68.

The prepacked sand control liner 87 is connected to the packer (85, FIG.2b) by hookup nipple 86. Outer hull 62 is connected to tubular member 70by collar 71. The tubular member 70 is preferably constructed of amaterial such as aluminum having a tensil strength less than the tensilstrength of metallic material used in attaching the tubular member 70 tothe production packer. The use of this weaker metal insures that if thesand control liner 87 becomes stuck in the hole, the packer may berecovered after the tubular member 70 fails under tension. A hollowmember 73 is connected by adapter sub 72 to the inner tube 64. Hollowmember 73 is adapted to receive production tubing (dashed lttl) andtubing seals (dashed 1103) when they are later inserted after the packerand prepack are in place in the borehole.

Referring to FIG. 2b where the upper portion of this alternativeembodiment of the invention is illustrated, a continuation of hollowmember 73, tubular member 70 and the later inserted production tubing104) is shown. Tubular member 70 is rigidly connected to the base of aproduction packer by collar 75 and adapter sub 76. 'Ille adapter sub 76is secured to production packer SS immediately below lower slips 44.Packer 85 is adapted to be set by wire line and the setting operation isidentical to the one above described.

Hollow member 73 is not connected to packer 85. There is a clearance 77left between hollow member 73 and the production packer 85 to allow forinsertion of a packer milling tool nose to retrieve the packer 85. Sincesand would ow into the production tubing 100 or up the annulus betweenproduction tubing 100 and the inner bore of packer 85 through clearance77, if the tubular member 70 were to be cracked on insertion into theborehole, production tubing 100 must have seals 103 below the clearance77 and seals 104 above the clearance. These seals insure oil productiononly through the prepacked sand control liner.

The packer S5 and the prepacked sand control liner 87 are connected onthe surface. A wire line is used to lower and set the packer in theborehole. The wire line and setting assembly is then removed from theborehole, the production tubing 100 inserted and the well is ready toproduce.

Referring to FIG. 3, an oil-bearing formation 91 penetrated by aborehole is shown. As now illustrated all drilling and casing operationshave been completed in the borehole 90 and the well is ready for sandcontrol completion with a prepacked sand control liner. The rst step inthe method of the present invention is diagrammatically illustrated. Thetop of a prepacked sand control liner 87 is connected to the bottom of aproduction packer 85 by a special hookup nipple 86. The hookup nipple 86is similar to that illustrated in FIG. 1 or in FIG. 2. This connectionis made above ground prior to insertion of the combination in theborehole.

A wire line setting assembly 84 is attached to the production packer.One wire line setting assembly suitable for use with the BakerProduction Packer heretofore mentioned is the Baker Wire Line PressureSetting Assembly with Adapter Kit, Product No. 437. However any settingassembly adapted to wire line set the production packer utilized in theinvention may be used keeping in the spirit of the invention. A wireline 81 is connected in the appropriate manner to the pressure settingassembly 84.

The sand control prepacked liner 87, the hookup nipple 86, theproduction packer 85 and the pressure setting assembly 84 are loweredinto the borehole by wire line 81. A surface installation to facilitatelowering the combination is winch 80 which feeds wire line 81 intoborehole 90 through pulley 82 supported by derrick 83.

FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates the position of the prepacked sandcontrol liner 87, the hookup nipple 86, the production packer 85 and thepressure setting assembly 84 in the borehole 90 suspended by wire line81 adjacent producing formation 91 just prior to setting the productionpacker 85. In this position the sand control liner 87 is adjacent theproducing formation 91. The thickness of the producing formation 91 willto a large extent determine the length of the prepacked sand controlliner 87. As much as 95 feet of prepacked sand con- U trol liner 87 andhookup nipple 86 have been successfully connected below a productionpacker S5 using the method of the invention.

Production packer 85 is positioned above producing formation 91. Thepacker 'S5 is separated from but rigidly connected to the prepacked sandcontrol liner $7 by special hookup nipple 36. The method of theinvention may be practiced in either cased or uncased wells since packer85 is adapted to be set against casing or against a formation wall.However, it is preferred that the borehole be cased and perforated atthe producing level.

FIG. 5 shows the production packer 35 after it has been set. The Wireline setting assembly S4 is released automatically during the settingoperation from the production packer 8S and is withdrawn from theborehole 90 by means of wire line 81. Extending below packer S5 are thehookup nipple 86 and prepacked sand control liner 87. The inner bore ofthe prepacked liner S7 is connected to the inner bore of packer 85 bythe hookup nipple 86. The setting of packer 8S seals oi the annularspace between the exterior of packer 85 and the borehole 90 thuslimiting communication between producing formation 91 and the surface toa path through the central tlow passage of prepacked sand control liner87.

FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates the well ready to produce oilthrough prepacked sand control liner 87. A string of production tubing88 is inserted into the inner bore of the production packer S5 andsealed therein by means of seals on tubing 83. The only route to thesurface from the producing formation 91 is through the conduit formed bythe inner bores of the prepacked sand control liner 87, the specialhookup nipple 86, the production packer 85 and the production tubing S.The well is now ready to produce.

The invention having been fully described, we claim:

1. Apparatus for completing a well comprising a sand control linerhaving an inner tube, a packer having an inner bore in communicationwith the inner tube of said sand control liner and tubular meansconnecting said inner tube of said sand control liner to said packer,said means adapted to separate when a predetermined stress is appliedthereto.

2. Apparatus for sand control completion in a well comprising aprepacked sand control liner having an inner tube, a production packerhaving an inner bore in communication with the inner tube, said packeradapted for wire line setting and tubular means connecting said innertube of said prepacked sand control liner to said production packer,said means adapted to separate when a predetermined stress is appliedthereto.

3. Apparatus for sand control in an oil well comprising a prepacked sandcontrol liner having an inner tube, a tubular member, means connectingsaid inner tube to one end orn said tubular member, said means adaptedto separate when a predetermined stress is applied thereto, a productionpacker having an inner bore, said packer adapted for wire line setting,and means connecting the other end of said tubular member to saidproduction packer to provide communication between said inner tube ofsaid prepacked sand control liner and said inner bore 0f said productionpacker.

4. Apparatus for completing an oil well comprising a sand control linerhaving an inner tube and an outer hull, said liner adapted to be carriedby said outer hull, a packer having an inner bore, communicating withthe inner tube of said sand control liner, and means connecting saidouter hull of said sand control liner to said packer, said means adaptedto separate when a predetermined stress is applied thereto.

5. Apparatus for sand control in an oil well comprising a prepacked sandcontrol liner having an inner tube and an outer hull, said liner adaptedto be carried by said outer hull, a production packer having an innerbore communicating with the inner tube of said sand control liner, andmeans connecting said outer hull to said production packer, said meansadapted to separate when a predetermined stress is applied thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSV2,257,344 Maloney Sept. 30, 1941 2,299,057 McClain Oct. 13, 19422,416,842 OLeary Mar. 4, 1947 2,707,998 Baker et al. May 10, 19552,713,910 Baker et al. July 26, 1955 2,981,332 Miller et al 4-1-7 Apr.25, 1961

